One Search Keyword within a Total of 5 Results in Malware

According to the Barracuda Security Labs' 2010 Annual Security Report released on March 3, 2011, malware sites through search engines have taken off. Actually, during July-December 2010, there was a 55% rise in malware sites detected every day. Computing.co.uk published this on March 3, 2011.

Reportedly, through plain searches for well-known keywords, numerous malware items are discovered daily, with exactly 1 search topic in 5 leading to a malware site. During June 2010, Google, it's said, blocked 69% of all malicious sites on its search engine. And by December 2010, the percentage dropped to 38%, thereby indicating that cyber-criminals alongside raising the total volume of malicious sites on Google search engine attacked other search engines too.

Moreover, following this development, Barracuda has classified the 10 most-prevalent malware in terms of their impact. First on the list is spyware, which has a 24% impact, whereas amusement websites carrying malicious software are at 15%.

Additionally, Barracuda's report is also unique in that it provides the data related to the blocked malicious software in terms of the day as also hour during a week. Thus, the report states that it is Tuesday when malware blocked is most effective since this day has had 20% of blocked malicious software. Monday and Saturday has had 14% and 15% respectively, while the other days have had 11%-13%.

Further, in terms of the hour which blocks malware most effectively, it is between 11pm to 5am. Between 5am and 11am too malware programs are most effectively blocked at 27%. Incidentally, the above figures have been gained via surveys and analysis of Internet users.

Stated Chief Research Officer Paul Judge at Barracuda Networks, cyber-criminals concentrated on areas that attracted the maximum attention and yielded most profits, and during the current time that meant search engines and social-networking websites. Computing.co.uk reported this.

Meanwhile, alongside Google, Barracuda assessed outcomes obtained from Yahoo, Twitter and Bing. In fact, attacks on Twitter were on the rise, accounting for a 20% hike in online offences during 2010. The report moreover, has based its analysis from more than 157,000 current news topics along with 37m search returns.